EP1391755B1 - Vehicle lamp - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle lamp, in particular side indicator for installation in the housing of an exterior rearview mirror, with a lamp housing, at least one arranged in the lamp housing light guide, which extends from the outer edge of the housing of the exterior rearview mirror substantially horizontally to the vehicle, and the ei to the ner to the vehicle-facing end side in him from at least one light source coupled light leads to its opposite end and decoupled according to the legally required light distribution substantially opposite and transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle and at least one second light source, which is associated with at least one optical component, which is arranged substantially following the contour of the light guide in the luminaire housing.

Such a vehicle lamp is known from EP-A-1 195 296 or DE 200 17 038 U1. In the known vehicle lamp, the light guide is rod-shaped in the lamp housing, wherein two egg n-individual light guide are provided to increase the visibility. Between the rod-shaped optical fibers, a group of light sources in the form of LEDs is arranged, in front of which a light-converging condenser lens is disposed in its main emission direction. The LEDs, in conjunction with the converging lens, serve the purpose of increasing the luminous area of the side indicator when switched on. A disadvantage of such a known vehicle lamp is that due to the distribution of the light sources along the light guide and the collective lens before them usable for the light function section of the mirror housing is not homogeneously illuminated in the on state, which is not desirable for reasons of the design of the exterior rearview mirror , Especially the areas of the converging lens behind which an LED is arranged, appear in the on state as bright spots. Furthermore, the elongated converging lens in the on state appears as a narrow, luminous strip of alternating intensity, to which bands which are less bright above and below are assigned. Another disadvantage of the known vehicle lamp is that the group of light sources is arranged substantially in the direction of travel directly behind the converging lens, so that the lamp housing is built very deep-building in housing of the exterior rear-view mirror. Such an arrangement of the group of light sources has the further disadvantage that a plurality of individual light sources are required, which must be contacted on a non-planar light source carrier or individually, which means a considerable cost and installation effort.

The object of the invention is to provide a vehicle lamp, in particular a side indicator for installation in the housing an exterior rearview mirror according to the preamble of claim 1, which homogeneously illuminates the usable for the light function section of the mirror housing in the on state, which has as few light sources and which is easy and inexpensive to install.

This object is achieved in that the optical component is designed as a second optical fiber, which is arranged substantially behind the first optical fiber and the transposed into it by the at least one second light source at a pointing end facing the vehicle light by means of coupling elements substantially transversely decoupled to its longitudinal extent, wherein the decoupled from the second light guide light irradiates the first light guide.

Such a structure lights in the switched-on task according to the usable for the light function section of the mirror housing homogeneously, because the second optical fiber couples the light coupled into it homogeneously over its entire surface and the light coupled out of it passes through the first light guide, so that the vehicle lamp in essentially has no differences in the emitted light intensity. Furthermore, it is advantageous that only a minimum of light sources are required for the two light guides, which can be contacted easily and inexpensively in front of the coupling-in areas of the light guides.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the coupling-out elements are reflective elements applied to the lateral surface of the second optical waveguide opposite the first optical waveguide. Such a structure allows a great freedom of design in the design of the coupling-out, in particular, applied as coupling elements applied coatings of the vehicle lamp in the off state, a visually pleasing appearance.

Another advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the decoupling elements are in the first optical fiber opposite lateral surface of the second light guide introduced prisms. By such a construction, the decoupling elements can be produced easily and inexpensively, since they are molded with the same during injection of the optical fiber and thus no further step is necessary to form the decoupling elements in the second optical fiber.

The vehicle lamp has both in the off and in the on state an attractive design, when the decoupling elements are advantageously punctiform or linear.

In order to further simplify the production of the second optical waveguide and to give it an attractive design, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the decoupling elements are scattering elements contained in the material of the second optical waveguide.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the housing wall of the lamp housing facing the outer surface of the second optical waveguide is formed mirrored, so that inadvertently reflected by manufacturing tolerances contrary to the desired Auskoppelrichtung of the second optical fiber from this decoupled light through the mirrored housing wall in the direction of the light guide is irradiated and also according to the desired light distribution, the first light guide. Furthermore, the vehicle lamp receives a visually appealing design through the mirrored housing wall.

In order to simplify the construction and manufacture of the first light guide and to parallelize the light beams to be coupled into the light guide, the light coupling section of the first light guide has an optical element, so that the light beams of the at least one first light source couple into the first light guide in such a way in a first region of the first light guide, primarily incident only on a lateral surface of the light guide and they are thereby directed to the coupling-out of the first light guide, that they decouple directly according to the legally required light distribution. The optical element can be used as an additional component between the However, the optical element is advantageously formed integrally with the first light guide, the optical element is expediently a Fresnel lens that requires little space, with which, however, the light beams are very precisely deflected in the desired direction , Such a construction offers the advantage that the light beams are guided through the first optical fiber to the decoupling area substantially without losses by means of total reflection, that they no longer reflect on the walls of the optical fiber due to the design of the decoupling area, but according to the legally required light distribution from the light source Disengage the light guide.

The construction and assembly of the vehicle lamp is taskally simplified in that the at least one light source associated with the first light source and the at least one light source associated with the second light source are arranged on a common light source carrier in the lamp housing. Thus, the light sources can be easily contacted electrically and mechanically and mounted together in the luminaire housing.

In order to use the vehicle lamp for more than just a flashing light function, in an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the at least one first light source and the at least one second light source emit light with a different color and are individually electrically controllable. Thus, it is possible that in the first light guide light is coupled with a yellow color scheme and he meets the statutory light distribution of a flashing light function in the vehicle exterior mirror and coupled into the second light guide light with a white color and he meets the light function of a limiting light. Furthermore, it is possible that the second Light guide are associated with at least two light sources, each having a different color, so that it depending on which light source is electrically driven, either in a light source with a white color emits the described light function of the limiting light or at a light source which emits light with a yellow color scheme described homogeneous illumination of the flashing light field met.

In order to make the structure of the vehicle lamp as small as possible, the at least one first light source and / or the at least one second light source is designed as an LED.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Fahrzeugaußenspiegels,

Figur 2:

die geschnittene Draufsicht gemäß der Linie X-X aus Figur 1,

Figur 3:

die geschnittene Draufsicht gemäß der Linie X-X aus Figur 1,

Figur 4:

die vergrößerte Detailansicht Y aus Figur 2 und

Figur 5:

die vergrößerte Detailansicht Z aus Figur 2.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a perspective view of a vehicle outside mirror,

FIG. 2:

the sectional plan view along the line XX of Figure 1,

FIG. 3:

the sectional plan view along the line XX of Figure 1,

FIG. 4:

the enlarged detail view Y of Figure 2 and

FIG. 5:

the enlarged detail view Z of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a seen from the direction of travel of the vehicle left outer rearview mirror (10) of a motor vehicle with a housing (12) and in a housing cutout (14) arranged vehicle lamp, which is a side indicator. The usable for the light function housing cutout (14) extends from the outer edge (32) of the outer rearview mirror (10) substantially horizontally to the vehicle, not shown. The design of the vehicle lamp is characterized by the arrangement of the decoupling elements (40) of the second light guide, which is not visible in this view.

FIG. 2 shows the sectional top view according to the line XX from FIG. 1, the function of the first light guide (20) being illustrated here. The housing (12) of the outer rearview mirror (10) is closed against the direction of travel (F) by a mirror glass (16). In a housing cutout (14), a vehicle lamp is used, which extends substantially horizontally from the outer edge (32) to the vehicle, not shown. The vehicle lamp consists of a luminaire housing (18) into which a first light guide (20) and second light guide (34) are inserted. The second light guide (34) is seen against the direction of travel (F) arranged almost equidistantly behind the first light guide (20). On a in the luminaire housing (18) arranged light source carrier (28) two light sources (26, 38) are contacted, wherein the one light source (26) is associated with the first light guide (20) and the other light source (38) is associated with the second light guide (34). The light emitted by the light source (26) is coupled into the first optical waveguide (20) through a light coupling region (22) provided with an optical element and guided therein by total internal reflection to the light outcoupling region (24). For the sake of clarity, a small number of light beams (30) are shown in FIG. 2 in the first light guide (20). In the light extraction area (24), the legally required area of the light distribution for the flashing light function is illuminated by the coupled-out light beams (30). On the formation of the Lichteinkoppelbereiches (22) of the first light guide (20) in the description of Figure 4 and the formation of Lichtauskoppelbereiches (24) of the first light guide (20) is discussed in more detail in the figure description to Figure 5.

FIG. 3 likewise shows the sectional plan view according to the line XX from FIG. 1, the function of the second optical waveguide (34) being illustrated here. The light emitted by light source (38) contacted by light source carrier (28) couples to end face (36) facing the vehicle (not shown) into second light guide (34) and is directed through it by total reflection. On the first light guide (20) opposite lateral surface (42) of the second light guide (34) output coupling elements (40) are applied in the form of paint dots. At this decoupling elements (40), the total reflection is interrupted and passed through the second light guide (34) light rays (30) are coupled out against the lateral surface (42). The coupled-out light beams (30) radiate through the first optical waveguide (20) without being significantly influenced by it. As a result of the transillumination of the first light guide (20), the housing cutout (14) of the exterior rearview mirror (10) which can be used for the light function is homogeneously illuminated. The casing surface (44) of the luminaire housing (18) facing the lateral surface (42) is mirror-shaped, whereby the second optical waveguide (34) appears to float when switched off and the vehicle luminaire receives a visually appealing design.

In FIG. 4, the special embodiment of the light coupling-in region (22) is illustrated in an enlarged detail view according to the detail Y of FIG. The light emitted by the light source (26) contacted by the light source carrier (28) strikes a light input region (22) of the first light guide (20) associated Fresnel lens (46), which influences the light such that the light beams (30) in a first region (48) of the first light guide (20) substantially only on the second light guide (34) facing lateral surface (50) of the first light guide (20) meets and is forwarded from there by means of total reflection. Such influencing of the light beams (30) during the light coupling into the first light guide (20) makes it possible for the light beams (30) to decouple in the light outcoupling area of the light guide in accordance with the legally prescribed light distribution.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged detail view of the light extraction region (24) according to the detail Z from FIG. The light beams (30) conducted through the first optical waveguide (20) through the corresponding optical influence in the light coupling region, at its end, according to the legally prescribed light distribution, couple substantially opposite and transverse to the direction of travel of the vehicle. A part of the light rays (30) guided through the first light guide (20) exits the light guide directly through a first surface (56) of the light extraction region (24) and thus fulfill a first subregion of the legally prescribed light distribution. The other part of the light rays (30) guided by the first light guide (20) impinge an end reflecting surface (54) of the first optical fiber (20) and is reflected to a second surface (52) of the Lichtauskoppelbereiches (24) and exits there from the first optical fiber (20), that the other portion of the legally prescribed light distribution is met ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Door mirrors

12

casing

14

housing cutout

16

mirror glass

18

luminaire housing

20

first light guide

22

Lichteinkoppelbereich

24

Lichtauskoppelbereich

26

light source

28

Light source carrier

30

light rays

32

outer edge

34

second light guide

36

front

38

light source

40

decoupling

42

lateral surface

44

housing

46

Fresnel lens

48

first area

50

lateral surface

52

first surface

54

Endreflektionsfläche

56

second surface

F

direction of travel

Claims (11)

1. Vehicle lamp, more particularly a side-mounted turn-signal lamp to be installed into the housing (12) of an external rear-view mirror (10), incorporating a lamp housing (18), at least one light guide (20) which is arranged in the lamp housing (18), extends substantially horizontally up to the vehicle from the outer edge of the housing (12) of the external rear-view mirror (10), and which guides the light from at least one light source (26) that is input into it on one end face pointing towards the vehicle to its opposing end face, and there in conformity with the legally stipulated light distribution outputs the light in substantially the opposite direction to the vehicle's direction of travel (F) and transversely thereto, and incorporating at least one second light source (38), operatively associated with which is at least one optical component which is arranged in the lamp housing (18) so as to substantially follow the contour of the light guide (20),
   characterised in that the optical component is configured as a second light guide (34) which is arranged substantially to the rear of the first light guide (20) and which, by means of output elements (40) and substantially transversely to its longitudinal extension, outputs the light being input into it from the at least one second light source (38) on one end (36) face pointing towards the vehicle, with the light output from the second light guide (34) being beamed through the first light guide (20).
2. Vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the outputting elements (40) are reflecting elements which are mounted on the generated surface (42) of the second light guide (34) and located opposite the first light guide (20).
3. Vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the outputting elements (40) are prisms which are incorporated into the generated surface (42) of the second light guide (34) and located opposite the first light guide (20).
4. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outputting elements (40) have a punctiform or linear configuration.
5. Vehicle lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the outputting elements (40) are dispersion elements contained in the material of the second light guide (34).
6. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall (44) of the lamp housing (18) that is directed towards the generated surface (42) of the second light guide (34) has a metallised configuration.
7. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the light inputting zone (22) of the first light guide (20) features an optical element which inputs the light rays (30) from the at least one first light source (26) into the first light guide (20) in such a way that in a first zone (48) of the first light guide (20) they preferentially only strike a generated surface (50) of the light guide and this means that they are guided to the light outputting zone (24) of the first light guide (20) in such a way that they are output there in conformity with the legally stipulated light distribution.
8. Vehicle lamp according to claim 7, characterised in that the optical element is a Fresnel lens (46).
9. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one light source (26) which is operatively associated with the first light guide (20) and the at least one light source (38) which is operatively associated with the second light guide (34) are arranged on a common light source bracket (28) in the lamp housing (18).
10. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one first light source (26) and the at least one second light source (38) emit light of different coloration and can individually be activated electronically.
11. Vehicle lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one first light source (26) and/or the not at least one second light source (38) is configured as an LED.

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